Alzheimer’s affects men at younger age but women more prone new study

Clinicians may now have the ability to screen men for Alzheimer’s at younger ages. A new study was showcased today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. An alarming report from the Mayo Clinic indicates that Alzheimer’s affects over 5 million Americans, including both and men and women; the disease is commonly believed, though, to affect only women.

Researchers found that men diagnosed with Alzheimer’s experienced atypical symptoms and were younger. Melissa Murray, who led the study and an assistant professor of neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic, said that scientists obtained a wealth of data from an established brain bank with Alzheimer’s-influenced specimens and found stunning evidence: “[In those with Alzheimer’s] men in their 60s were overrepresented,” she said. In other words, a larger number of men in this age range were diagnosed more than expected.

In these subjects, the disease debilitated a major part of the brain that governs higher functioning, which could lead to deaths before 70 years of age. The progressive nature of the disease is a possible reason for claiming more women than men. Women are typically diagnosed at older ages than men.

Director of the Global Sciences Initiative at the Alzheimer’s Association, James Hendrix, explained the difficulties of diagnosing the disease with contemporary science. “Diagnosis of [Alzheimer’s] is messy and challenging, and is done through cognitive testing, which is not the same as an objective measure, like a biomarker,” he said.

Memory loss is the first typical symptom that disrupts daily functioning; difficulty in completing daily tasks, disorientation with time and place, challenges with problem-solving, and complications with speech are common side-effects the Alzheimer’s Association says.

Hendrix believes the study could alter diagnosis.

“For people, in particular in their 60s, this disease impacts more men [and] that’s really important to understand from a diagnosis perspective,” he explained. “Why are we seeing women disproportionately affected? It’s because women live longer, but it’s more than that. Understanding these differences could help understanding Alzheimer’s disease and what is causing this disease to help create strategies to lower Alzheimer’s disease risk.”

Scientists are relying on new imaging technology that can reveal why the disease has its gender bias. Such methods include Amyloid PET Imaging brain scans currently under approval. But institutional obstacles, however, such as Medicare’s policies could stymie progress.

Hendrix also pointed out that vision and smell tests may lead to earlier diagnosis.

Source: ABC News